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“GO, Al. Go to the foreign minister’s residence and look for Lady Crowne. Tell her the truth about what happened here.”
Riddhe had just ordered Albert to escape through the window into the garden and look for help, so how did he end up at Ist’s office?
Fortunately, the clouds had hidden the moon on the night of Albert’s escape. Since all the guards had rushed to Empress Elizabeth, Albert escaped from Kingsley Castle without much fuss. But that was the start of his problems.
The moment Riddhe was arrested, it became clear that the servant who usually accompanied him was missing. Soon, the Royal Capital Guard began patrols in search of Albert.
Following Riddhe’s instructions, Albert made his way to the Crowne mansion as stealthily as he could, but the guards had already been alerted, and a large number were stationed around it, making it impossible for Albert to approach.
Despite that, he had to press on. Riddhe’s life depended on it. His master might not be executed immediately, but he would not be safe until Albert could get the truth to Lady Beatrix.
He could try to force his way past the guards. It would be risky, but he would be safe as long as he could get to Lady Crowne…
Decision made, Albert was about to dash out of the bushes when someone grabbed his shoulder. It was Barnabas McGregor, vice chairman of Ist.
“Mister Barnabas, why did you protect Albert?” Clovis asked the man seated across from him. He had joined the group at Ist’s office in Kingsley, and the five men were now seated in a private room together.
“Why…? It’ll take quite a bit of time to explain that.” Pushing his hair back with a hand, Barnabas explained how he’d come to work with Beatrix to protect Albert.
In fact, Barnabas had spotted Albert in the bushes by chance. After his workday, he’d exited Ist’s office to a city flooded with guards and rampant gossip about the empress’s dire situation. Even more surprising was the news that Heillander Riddhe Sutherland had been arrested as the culprit.
Barnabas had headed immediately to the Crowne mansion, where Riddhe was staying. Ever since the man revealed that he was also looking into the case of his best friend, Adam Fisher, Barnabas had been curious about Riddhe and his secret mission.
However, he arrived to see the Royal Capital Guard swarming the mansion. Anxious, he’d thought about heading to the Yggdrasil mansion instead to look for Charlotte but spotted Albert in the darkness just as he was about to leave.
“I then brought Mister Albert here and learned that the man who framed Lord Riddhe…and the man who killed my friend was Lord Yggdrasil.”
In a pained voice, Barnabas confessed that he’d always suspected it. There was only one person whom Adam could be so loyal and protective of, and that was Yggdrasil, the man who discovered him at the orphanage.
Barnabas hadn’t wanted to believe it, but like a stain spreading on fabric, the doubt grew within him. That was when he put aside his grief and mourning and started to investigate Adam’s death zealously, hoping to clear the suspicion surrounding the benefactor he respected so much.
However, contrary to his hopes, his doubts turned into truth.
Barnabas was conflicted. Yggdrasil was his benefactor but also the one who took his friend’s life, the confidante of the empress, and the sponsor of Ist. How was he going to face up to Eric Yggdrasil?
In the end, he’d gotten in touch with Beatrix and offered to shelter Albert, promising to deliver him safely to Kingsley Castle for Riddhe’s trial.
“I was an orphan and now am vice president of Ist. Either way, I can’t sit back and watch the war happen. I have to uncover his true motives and then sort my inner self out. Nothing else matters.”
He’d shared his plans with Dudley, who showed support. It was a good chance for Ist to repay their favor to Beatrix and the empress. Even if Riddhe was found guilty and their plot was discovered by the chancellor, they decided it would be fine as long as Barnabas took the fall on his own.
“Well, fate sure loves to play tricks. Just how many coincidences did it orchestrate to gather us all here?” Jude smiled with a shrug. “Nevertheless, I guess it’s a relief. The trial should start soon. We’ll head to the castle together with Albert and meet up with Princess Alicia, then decide how to deal with the chancellor.”
“…Is that really the best plan?”
In contrast to Jude’s enthusiasm, Clovis remained pensive as he placed a hand on his chin in thought. Seeing the adviser’s unexpected reaction, the marquis tilted his head.
“What are you saying, Clo? We’ve already come this far. Didn’t you cross the sea to get to Princess Alicia?”
Ignoring Jude’s question, Clovis turned to Barnabas. “Mister Barnabas, can you get word to Lady Crowne?”
The vice president blinked in surprise but answered quickly.
“We update each other once or twice per day. She will send a messenger, and I’ll send him back with an update. Our last communication was this morning.”
“Has Lady Crowne said anything about Empress Elizabeth? Are they able to see each other?”
“No, she said she was not allowed to visit Her Majesty. I think she requested an audience multiple times, but the medic always rejected the suggestion.”
“I see. The medic must be following orders from Chancellor Yggdrasil, then?”
“Strictly speaking, it’s His Highness Fritz’s orders. I heard that since Her Majesty collapsed, His Highness has taken charge of the castle. However, Lord Yggdrasil is probably advising him in reality.”
Clovis mulled over Barnabas’s answer for a moment.
Needless to say, the only one who could change the verdict of the trial was Empress Elizabeth. Alicia and the others probably knew it, too, and would try all methods to bring the empress over, but the chancellor would be working against them.
However, even if the plan worked and they could bring the empress out, would things go well from there?
What Clovis didn’t know was if Empress Elizabeth was still allied with Alicia. Beatrix probably knew the answer but chose to keep Ist, specifically Dudley Hopkins, in the dark, afraid that the president would withdraw his support. Either way, the chancellor was definitely supporting Crown Prince Fritz, or he wouldn’t have done something as bold as poisoning his own mother.
Elizabeth was known for her harsh personality and would certainly not forgive the chancellor for his deeds, but how would she react if she found out that her son and heir, Fritz, was an accomplice? Would she side with the chancellor to protect the crown prince and seal Riddhe’s fate?
Alicia and her allies couldn’t contact the empress before the trial, so everything hinged on the trial itself. King James had also asked him to save Alicia. He didn’t say that Clovis had to meet up with her.
So, what was his best course of action?
How could he help Alicia?
“I’m heading to Kingsley Castle, but not for the trial. I have something to accomplish first.”
Everyone in the room turned to him. His next words were received with a mix of expectation and interest.
“Everyone, I’ll need your help to get me to Empress Elizabeth.”